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A Journal of Insomnia

Description

The Internet is insomnia. It is always night somewhere—and day
somewhere else. The Net never sleeps.

A Journal of Insomniais a collaborative
experience, inviting people to be both spectators and actors in a compelling
encounter with what keeps them up at night. It invites users to immerse
themselves within the universe of insomnia—a phenomenon that will touch most
of us at some point in our lives.

Moving beyond the traditional narrative boundaries of the documentary form,
the project offers an unsettling new perspective on the society we inhabit.In September 2012, the project’s creators began asking insomniacs around
the world to confide in them through nfb.ca/insomnia.
Since then, thousands have contributed, sharing their experiences via webcam,
written accounts and drawings. Many of these contributions form the raw
material for A Journal of Insomnia. Four
insomniacs in particular share their sleepless nights with the creative team.
Their revealing testimony draws us into an enclosed atmosphere of solitude and
distress.

The original idea for the project comes from Hugues Sweeney, Executive
Producer for the French Program’s Digital Studio at the NFB. The creative team
behind the project is characterized by remarkable synergy: Guillaume Braun and
Bruno Choinière, from the Montréal-based production house AKUFEN; Philippe
Lambert, and Thibaut Duverneix, from the multidisciplinary studio Departement.

Guided by the subtle narration of actress Marie Brassard, users can spend over
an hour navigating through a work that transcends voyeurism to offer
meaningful insight into the insomniac experience. The melding of subject and
narrative form allows users to understand insomnia from a fresh
perspective—one that offers an arresting and immediate snapshot of insomniacs
across the globe.